ERIC KIM

Category: Posts

  • Losing my Leica Virgnity in Paris

    Losing my Leica Virgnity in Paris

    "Wrap Around" - Eric Kim
    "Wrap Around" – Eric Kim

    When I first got my feet wet in street photography and heard of Leica cameras, I couldn’t quite understand the hype surrounding it. Sure it looked like a cool and retro old-school camera, but why the heavy pricetag? After doing my homework, it seemed like everyone who owned one would rave and praise it. In Chris Week’s street photography documentary, “Documenting the Human Condition” he highly encourages everyone to try shooting with a rangefinder and noticed that the “haters” have never shot with Leica’s themselves. This piqued my interest, however I never even dreamed that I would have the chance to shoot with a Leica.

    (more…)

  • 5 Tips How to Shoot Street Photography Without People

    5 Tips How to Shoot Street Photography Without People

    Matt Stuart
    Matt Stuart

    A question I often get asked is whether or not street photography needs to include people. It was a topic that fascinated me, so I even posted it to my Facebook fan page for the community to discuss. I have talked to many street photographers about this, and the vast majority of the consensus is that street photography doesn’t necessarily have to include people. However if street photography doesn’t have to include people, how can we differentiate those types of images from any other genre of photography?

    Simply put, I feel that effective street photographs without people show the uncanny of everyday life, while showing remnants of humanity. Keep reading to see how you can effectively shoot street photographs without people in it.

    (more…)

  • Should You Ask For Permission When Shooting Street Photography?

    Currently the video that I shot with my Leica M9 and GoPro HD 960 has been getting quite popular on the web, and has been creating some interesting discussions on what street photography is/isn’t. In this video I discuss my definition of street photography and whether you should ask for permission when shooting street photography.

    Also make sure to check out the articles How to Shoot Street Photography with Permission with Danny Santos and The Street Portraiture Project of Fulton Street by Chris Sorensen.

    I welcome everyone to participate in the discussion and please leave a comment below! How would you define street photography, and do you think you should ask for permission or not–and why? Looking forward to everyone’s thoughts :)

  • Smile, You’re on Leica Camera

    Smile, You’re on Leica Camera

    Damien Pot uploaded this awesome photo of his Leica M9 and flash  to my Facebook fan page. How would you react if someone took a photo of you with this rig? ;)

  • Shooting Street Photography With a Leica M9 and Flash in Los Angeles at Night [First Impressions]

    Shooting Street Photography With a Leica M9 and Flash in Los Angeles at Night [First Impressions]

    Eric Kim Flash Street Photography Leica M9
    Leica M9 and Off-shoe Flash

    With my Leica M9 set up with my Canon Speedlite 430EX, I experimented street photography with a flash for the first time in Los Angeles (3rd Street Promenade). Despite what people say, I didn’t get punched in the face or my camera broken (although I did get shoved once hard in the back). Overall, it was quite a fascinating experience, and I learned a ton about the process. Keep reading to watch the video of  my crazy stories, and also check out some of the photos as well.

    (more…)

  • The Lessons of Shooting Street Photography in a Small City

    The Lessons of Shooting Street Photography in a Small City

    "Take it inside..." - Keith Chastain
    "Take it inside…" – Keith Chastain. Berkeley

    Eric: For this guest post I am pleased to feature Keith Chastain, an incredibly passionate street photographer who currently lives in a small city. Many of you in the past have asked me advice about shooting street photography in a small city and franking speaking– I wasn’t quite sure what to say. However Keith is able to balance his life in the small city, while scratching his itch for street photography while hitting up big cities like San Francisco. Read more to see his images and read his insight about the subject.

    Keith: I’m thinking of an unoriginal analogy for street photography…Bear with me here…Street photography is a lot like fishing right? We have our favorite spots that usually guarantee us a few bites. Sometimes we come home with a few catches that are small and should have been thrown back, while other times we might return with the big one….A capture worthy of hanging over the fireplace like a fat marlin an old angler dreams of. The fundamental aspect of fishing is fish, just as people are the ones we street photographers set out to catch on any given day.

    (more…)

  • You Thought Street Photography Was Scary: War Photographers on the Shots That Nearly Killed Them

    You Thought Street Photography Was Scary: War Photographers on the Shots That Nearly Killed Them

    War Photos

    War photographers have a crucial job to society that is not only important but extremely dangerous. Without war photographers, we would not see the true realities of war and the countless number of lives that it affects. History has even proven that a single photo has the power to even end a war.

    Read more about these war photographers’ stories that are incredibly real and chilling: The shot that nearly killed me: War photographers – a special report

    via PetaPixel

  • 85mm and the City: Street Photography in the Big Apple

    85mm and the City: Street Photography in the Big Apple

    "Maturity..." by Thomas Leuthard
    "Maturity…" by Thomas Leuthard

    This guest blog post is from Thomas Leuthard (85mm) who is one of my dear fellow street photographers from Switzerland. Not only are we good friends, but we have taught two street photography workshops together–one in Beirut, Lebanon and the other recently in Switzerland.

    In this blog post Thomas talks about his recent trip to New York City and about his experience shooting there. If you are curious to read what he has to say, read more and also see his great shots!

    (more…)

  • 5 Tips How to Capture Compelling Shadows in Street Photography

    5 Tips How to Capture Compelling Shadows in Street Photography

    "Father and Daughter" - Eric Kim
    "Father and Daughter" – Eric Kim

    Often times as street photographers, we are too focused on capturing what is right before our eyes, rather than looking up and especially down. Capturing shadows is a wonderful way to open up your eyes to things which are around you, and give the viewer a sense of the surreal. If you are interested in understanding how you can better capture compelling shadows in your street photography, read on!

    (more…)

  • Inspirational Street Photography Wallpapers by Elliott Erwitt

    Inspirational Street Photography Wallpapers by Elliott Erwitt

    Elliott Erwitt, Paris, 1989 Tour Eiffel
    Elliott Erwitt, Paris, 1989 Tour Eiffel

    Need some inspiration when it comes to your street photography? Check out these beautiful black and white street photography wallpapers by Elliott Erwitt. Click on the images to see the full-resolution images, and keep reading to see more of his iconic images.

    (more…)

  • Paris Day 5: Interview with Alex Majoli from Magnum and Love For My Friends (last day in Paris)

    Paris Day 5: Interview with Alex Majoli from Magnum and Love For My Friends (last day in Paris)

    "Grimace" - Metro, Paris
    “Grimace” – Metro, Paris

    Today is the last day that I am in Paris, and I wanted to give you a few last updates. I was able to interview Alex Majoli from Magnum, an incredibly passionate and down-to earth photographer. Once I get back home, I will post the interview for you to read. Also I had the chance to walk around with JJ from Leica and take photographs, and also have a great meal of crepes with him and William Yan. Lastly in the night, I met up with Damien Rayuela, Charlie Kirk, and Alexandra Uhart with William. We had a ton of fun (and drinks) — make sure to read more to see the video and the images from today ;)

    (more…)

  • Paris Day 4: Leica Magnum Paris Convention and New Leica M9-P and 21mm f/3.4 Super-Elmar-M lens Announcement

    Leica Magnum Paris Leica M9-P 21mm f/3.5 Announcement
    Myself and Bruce Gilden at the Leica Magnum Paris Event. My hero!

    Today was one hell of a day. It was the official Leica Magnum Paris event, and I was able to attend as a VIP attendee. I was able to meet Naseem (Political blogger), Magnus Froderberg (Photography magazine chief editor on Sweden), Cristina Garcia Rodero (Magnum Photographer), William Yan (Street Style Photographer), Thorsten (Overgaard.dk), Brett (Leica Workshop Photographer), Peter McCollough (SF Street Photographer), Jean-Jacques Viau (Leica Internet Head), Oliver Bachmann (Leica Camera Switzerland Head), and my beloved Bruce Gilden (Magnum Photographer). Did I also mention I met and took a photo with Elliott Erwitt? Watch the video below to read more about my day, and also make sure to check out the photos I took during the event as well!

    (more…)

  • Why Inspiration is for Amateurs

    Why Inspiration is for Amateurs

    When it comes to street photography, it can often be very difficult to stay motivated and keep shooting on the streets. I told my problem to my younger sister, who recently got me a wonderful book titled “Spark: How Creativity Works” which illustrates the creative lives of influential artists ranging from novelists to musicians. One of the quotes that the author decided to include of Chuck Close inspired me in which he says that inspiration is for amateurs, and true greatness comes from the ability to stay consistent and be tenacious.

    (more…)

  • “Trapped” – Street Photography Exhibition by Josh White in Seoul, Korea

    “Trapped” – Street Photography Exhibition by Josh White in Seoul, Korea

    Hello everybody, I am excited to announce that Josh White (who I interviewed on my site and the Leica blog) will be having a street photography exhibition of his finest work on June 12 – July 3, 2011 in Guillaume in Seoul, Korea. Read up more information on Josh White’s Blog. If you are in the area, definitely check it out!

  • Black and White or Color in Street Photography: How Do You Make the Decision?

    Black and White or Color in Street Photography: How Do You Make the Decision?

    "Green Umbrella" - James Maher
    "Green Umbrella" – James Maher

    Eric: Quite often I am asked by the community when it is appropriate to have a street photograph in black and white or color. It is a question I grapple with myself daily as well, and I enlisted the help of James Maher, a talented New York street photographer to help write an article on it. I hope you enjoy it!

    James: Street Photography has been around for a long, long time. And for all but the last 10 years, the photographer has had to make a choice before walking out the door: should I use color or black and white film today?

    (more…)

  • 6 Tips How to Shoot Street Photographs of People’s Shoes (that don’t stink)

    6 Tips How to Shoot Street Photographs of People’s Shoes (that don’t stink)

    Street Photography Shoes by Eric Kim
    Eric Kim

    Thomas Leuthard, who is one of my close friends and fellow street photography workshop teachers, suggested a theme to me a while back that revolved around shooting street photography of people’s feet. At first I was a bit skeptical, but after looking at his images I was quite impressed. As street photographers, we can often get too preoccupied by looking forward that we don’t take the time to look up or down. Although shooting street photographs of people’s feet may sound weird (and a bit stinky), it can make for some fascinating results. Keep reading to find out how you can shoot street photography of people’s feet.

    (more…)

  • Name that Street Photograph, No. 1

    Name that Street Photograph, No. 1

    It is always important to know photographs by great street photographers to improve your eye and your technique. So let’s see if you know the image above. Leave your guess by leaving a comment below and tell us who the photographer is, and the story behind the image. Let’s see what you guys got!

  • What Makes a Great Composition? Adam Marelli Analyzes Famous Street Photographs by Alfred Eisenstaedt

    What Makes a Great Composition? Adam Marelli Analyzes Famous Street Photographs by Alfred Eisenstaedt

    Great Compositions by Alfred EisenstaedtGreat Compositions by Alfred Eisenstaedt

    Adam Marelli, who recently did a wonderful guest blog post on his experiences on shooting with a Leica M9, has recently written a great article on dissecting and analyzing famous street photographs by WWII photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt. In the article, he is able to skillfully dissect images from a geometric standpoint, something that great artists and painters have been using for centuries. The post is a bit technical, but definitely worth the read if you want to understand more about composition and street photography.

    Check out the article here.

    So what do you think? Do you think that understanding a good composition is artistic talent, or something that can be taught and analyzed? Leave your two cents by writing a comment below!

  • “Beauty in the Mundane” Street Photography Exhibition by Eric Kim this Saturday at 5:00PM in Tustin, CA

    “Beauty in the Mundane” Street Photography Exhibition by Eric Kim this Saturday at 5:00PM in Tustin, CA

    RSVP on Facebook
    Click here to RSVP on Facebook

    I am pleased to announce that I will be hosting a street photography exhibition this Saturday, June 4th, 2011 from 5:00-7:00pm at the Long Hai Restaurant in Tustin, CA. Join me as I share some of my finest black and white street photography from all around the world including Paris, Seoul, London, as well as Los Angeles  Click here to RSVP on Facebook.

    Admission is free, and complimentary drinks and appetizers from Long Hai Restaurant will be served.

    Also, I will be raffling off all of of my images to help fund-raise for the Sukhee Chung Photography foundation. 100% of the proceeds will benefit the Phoenix High photography class I am teaching to underprivileged high school students in Los Angeles. Tickets are $5 a piece, and there is no limit how many you can buy. You can watch a video I did about the class here.

    I would love it if you could make it (if you are in the Los Angeles region!)

  • How to Shoot Street Photography With a Flash

    How to Shoot Street Photography With a Flash

    "Lace" - Santa Monica
    "Lace" – Santa Monica. Shot with my Ricoh GRIII and flash.

    When it comes to street photography, I am always open to new ideas and styles. One technique I have been particularly interested in is shooting street photography with a flash. I have been very inspired by the work of Bruce Gilden and Charlie Kirk. Although this style is quite controversial, I think that shooting with a flash does add an extra dimension to an image, and isn’t quite as unethical as most people claim it to be. After all, it was Bruce Gilden who said, “…the people I shoot in the streets are my friends” and Charlie Kirk who says he shoots “…openly and honestly.” Therefore the last three or so weeks I have been shooting street photography with a flash, and with great success. I will discuss my technique of shooting street photography in the streets with a flash, with special emphasis on mindset as well as technical settings. Read more if you are curious.

    (more…)

  • 1923 Leica 0-series Sells For a Mind-Boggling $1.89 Million at Auction

    1923 Leica 0-series Sells For a Mind-Boggling $1.89 Million at Auction

    If you thought a Leica M9 was expensive, wait until you put your eyes on this baby. It is an 1923 Leica 0-series which just sold for €1,320,000, or about $1.89 million in US dollars at an auction in Vienna. This old-school gem was sold to a private collector from Asia who wishes to be anonymous to the public. The camera was one of 25 prototypes manufactured in 1923, before Leica started producing these cameras commercially. You can see the winning bid and auction at this video below.

    So do you think the guy who purchased this Leica is crazy or just has too much money to spend? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

    via Engadget and Leica Rumors.

  • 5 Things I Learned After Teaching My UK and Switzerland Street Photography Workshop

    5 Things I Learned After Teaching My UK and Switzerland Street Photography Workshop

    "Purple" - Shot in Brighton, UK with my Olympus EP-2
    "Purple" – Shot in Brighton, UK with my Olympus EP-2

    I am pleased to say after 4 jam-packed days of traveling and teaching a street photography workshop in Brighton, UK and Zurich, Switzerland I am back in Los Angeles. I had the trip of a lifetime and met some amazing people, ate some delicious food, and got some great street photographs as well. I also learned a great deal after doing this workshop and about Brighton and Zurich. Read more to see what I learned after teaching my UK and Switzerland street photography workshop!

    (more…)

  • Frank Oscar Larson from NYC – Another Street Photography Master Discovered

    Frank Oscar Larson from NYC – Another Street Photography Master Discovered

    Frank Oscar Larson Street Photography NYC
    Frank Oscar Larson

    I was recently on PetaPixel and they did a great story featuring another undiscovered master street photographer named Frank Oscar Larson. In the 1950’s he worked as an auditor in Queens and had a great knack of capturing beautiful moments in everyday life with his Rolleiflex camera. In 1964 he died of a stroke at the age of 68 and his images laid dormant for 45 years before being discovered by his son’s widow in 2009.

    His images are incredibly inspiring, and show a candid look into life in NYC nearly half a century ago. It seems recently there has been a handful of unknown master street photographers popping up recently, especially the likes of Vivian Maier. Read more to see his inspirational images.

    (more…)

  • How to Become an Invisible Street Photographer

    How to Become an Invisible Street Photographer

    "Contemplation" – show with my Ricoh GRIII

    A while back on my Facebook page and Twitter I asked you guys “if you had any street photography superpower, what would it be?” The vast majority of you answered: invisibility.

    As a street photographer, being invisible and blending in with your environment is key in getting an amazing street photograph. However, easier said than done right? In this post I will try to outline my thoughts on how to best be invisible when shooting on the streets, and what has helped me stay low-key when I am out shooting.

    (more…)

  • 11 Inspirational Examples of Shadow Street Photography

    11 Inspirational Examples of Shadow Street Photography

    Street Photography Shadows
    Vincent Tandijo Saputro

    Last week on my Facebook fan page I announced the street photography assignment of the week which was “shadows“. I got all of your wonderful submissions on my Facebook fan page, and chose the best here to feature. I hope you enjoy all the images below and stay tuned to Facebook page where I will announce this week’s street photography assignment.

    (more…)

  • The Camera of the Future: The WVIL (Wireless Viewfinder Interchangeable Lens) Concept

    I was surfing the web, and I came across this gorgeous camera-concept which was made by the design team over at Artefact. I am always curious what the future will hold for cameras, and this concept just may be pretty similar to what we will start seeing.

    Imagine having a street photography camera which allows you to remove your lens from your camera itself (which will allow you to even be more stealthy). Although I don’t know how useful it would be, it definitely makes you wonder about how technology is changing photography as we know it.

    So what do you think? Do you love or hate it? Share your opinions about this camera-concept by leaving a comment below!

  • How to Shoot Street Portraits With Permission by Danny Santos

    How to Shoot Street Portraits With Permission by Danny Santos

    Danny Santos shooting Stranger #85 & Stranger #86 , taken by Paulo Legaspi

    Eric’s Note: I am truly excited to have this guest post by Danny Santos, who is truly passionate about shooting portraits in the streets. I was fascinated and captivated by his work, and I asked him to write a guest post about how he shoots street portraits. Enjoy!


    Danny: Shooting street portraits of strangers is a very daunting task. Often when you see a stranger you want to photograph, you find yourself between a rock and a hard place:  you can’t seem to ask them for their photo, yet you know you just have to.  Here are a few tips that may help you get over that hill. It won’t make it easy, but it may give you the push to start creating your own set of portraits of strangers.

    (more…)

  • Breathtaking Street Photography by Stanley Kubrick in 1949

    Breathtaking Street Photography by Stanley Kubrick in 1949

    Stanley Kubrick Street Photography

    Long before Stanley Kubrick started filming amazing movies such as 2001: A Space Odyssey and A Clockwork Orange, he was a passionate street photographer. Check out some of these images he took in 1949 in Chicago title: “Chicago City of Contrasts.” All of the images tell incredible stories, and you can see where he got his inspiration for story-telling. Read more to see the rest of his inspirational images.

    (more…)

  • How to Become a Fearless Street Photographer

    How to Become a Fearless Street Photographer

    Photo by Charlie Kirk
    Photo by Charlie Kirk

    I believe that getting a good street photograph is 80% balls and 20% skill. If you look at the work of such street photographers as Bruce Gilden and Charlie Kirk, you will see that they have incredibly memorable images. Why is that? It is because they get close to their subjects—uncomfortably close by most people’s standards.

    One of the most popular questions I am asked by the community is how to build courage when it comes to street photography. I have learned a ton over the last several years about building the guts to get extremely close to people and take their photograph without their permission. In this blog post I will go in-depth about how you can become a fearless street photographer.

    (more…)

  • A Great Present for a Street Photographer: USB Film Roll

    Too damn sweet.

    There is nobody harder to shop for than a street photographer. The only things they would probably want is a Leica M9 or an old-school Rolleiflex. If you ever want to please the street photographer in your life, lighten up your wallet and check out these unique USB Film rolls from Photojojo at $20 a pop. They even got some cool ideas what you can do with your old film canisters here. Anybody thinking about picking up some of these or trying to hack their own version at home? More photos included below. Oh yeah if anybody has some extra cash, I could definitely use one ;).

    (more…)

  • Announcing New Street Photography Shirts in our Store!

    Announcing New Street Photography Shirts in our Store!

    Recently on my Facebook fan page I asked you guys what kinds of shirts you wanted to see. I heard a lot of input that you wanted shirts that had less focus on the cameras and gear, and more of the love of street photography itself. Therefore I designed these shirts for you to to show your street photography pride–wherever you go. You can see all of the designs in the store.

    I am also excited to announce that 10% of all proceeds will go to the Sukhee Chung Photography Foundationwhich strives to spread the love of photography to under-privileged youth in Los Angeles. This way by purchasing a shirt, you will help support other aspiring photographers as well. Everybody is a winner.

    Tell us what other designs you would like to see by leaving a comment below!

  • 5 Tips How to Shoot Street Photography With a Full-Time Job

    5 Tips How to Shoot Street Photography With a Full-Time Job

    "Lost in Thought"
    "Lost in Thought" – Shot near my workplace.

    Recently Neal Bingham, one of the moderators and admins for the Aspiring Street Photographers Flickr group I started asked me to write an article about how I shoot street photography  with a full-time job. I thought it would be a great topic to discuss, as many of us street photographers have full-time jobs while pursuing our passion and hobby on the side. Although life can often be incredibly busy, I will discuss some tips how you can always find time so how I make time to shoot street photography (even with a full-time job).

    (more…)

  • New #streettogs T-Shirt Design! (Red Dot)

    New #streettogs T-Shirt Design! (Red Dot)

    When asking you guys what kind of shirts you wanted, reader Mark Parry suggested a classic look, with a big red dot. After fiddling around in Photoshop, this is the design that I came with below. If you are interested in purchasing this shirt, check it out in our store! (Shirts are also available for ladies!)

    Click to enter the store.

    Popular Designs:

    Are there any other designs you would like to see? Leave a comment below and tell us what kinds of designs (or additional colors) you want!

  • 12 Inspirational Examples of Street Photography Shot with Film

    12 Inspirational Examples of Street Photography Shot with Film

    "Philadelphia 155" - Michael Penn
    "Philadelphia 155" – Michael Penn

    Recently on my Facebook page and Twitter I asked for you to submit your best street photographs shot in film. Here are the best submissions I got–congrats to everybody who got their images included! Stay tuned for more weekly assignments, and read more to see the other inspirational images.

    (more…)

  • 5 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Be Sneaky When Shooting Street Photography

    5 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Be Sneaky When Shooting Street Photography

    "Deep Thoughts" - Hollywood Street Photography by Eric Kim
    "Deep Thoughts" – Hollywood

    Recently one of my readers, Tim Agee, asked me if I could do an article on whether or not you should be “sneaky” when shooting street photography.

    This is a very tricky subject, as you need a certain degree of stealthiness to get candid images. However, some of the best street photographers aren’t taken when you are being “sneaky.” Being sneaky infers that you are timid and you have some sort of malicious intent. I advocate for being brave and bold when shooting street photography, and the invisibility will follow.

    What do I mean? As Markus Hartel wonderfully said, “Walk around at ease, be on the move and observe, shoot, nod confidently -or smile- .. and eventually it will become second nature, people care less than you think.” Read more to figure out why you shouldn’t be sneaky when shooting street photography.

    (more…)

  • Photo Essay: The Imaginative Street Photography of Siegfried Becker

    Photo Essay: The Imaginative Street Photography of Siegfried Becker

    Young man in a carnival costume fooling around with a toy pistol, 03/14/11 Forbach, France
    Young man in a carnival costume fooling around with a toy pistol, 03/14/11 Forbach, France

    For many years I used a studio for the majority of my photography. The attraction of this kind of photography lay in creating artificial imagery, but today I find my subjects in the streets.

    Life writes the best stories and practically no other area of photography proves this better than Street Photography. When you look more closely, the everyday reveals unique moments which are often comical, sometimes surreal and not seldom sorrowful and yet always show the variety of human behaviour.

    (more…)

  • Submit Your Best UK Street Photograph Contest

    Submit Your Best UK Street Photograph Contest

    To help spread the word about the street photography workshop I am teaching in Brighton on May 21st, MarkB over at X100Photo suggested that I host a street photography contest. I thought it is a fantastic idea for people to showcase their street photography while also having a chance to win a FREE street photography workshop for themself and a friend.

    How to Enter

    1. Choose your favorite street photograph that you shot in the UK and upload it to my Facebook fan page.
      • Include a caption with the following information:
        1. Title:
        2. Image caption:
        3. Location:
        4. Why you would like to attend my street photography workshop in Brighton:
    2. Get your friends to “Like” my Facebook fan page, and “Like” your image.
    3. Encourage your friends to vote for you by spreading the word on Facebook, Twitter, Email, blog, website, etc.

    Prize

    • On May 7th, I will announce the winner based on who has the most “Like’s”.
    • The winner will win a FREE street photography workshop for themself and a friend for my street photography workshop in Brighton on May 21st.

    Rules & FAQ

    • Voting ends on May 6th at midnight.
    • Each participant is only allowed to enter 1 image.
    • The image must have been taken in the UK.
    • Prize doesn’t include accommodation or airfare.
    • Entries can be either film or digital.
    • We deserve the right to disqualify any inappropriate images.

    Contest Dates

    • April 4-May 6

    Got any questions, comments, or concerns? If so, leave a comment below!

  • I Shoot Street Photography Women’s T-Shirt Photoshoot

    I Shoot Street Photography Women’s T-Shirt Photoshoot

    Everyone knows that street photography is not only for men, but for women as well! To showcase that, I recently did a photo-shoot with Cindy, my wonderful manager and beautiful girlfriend. We had a ton of fun doing this impromptu photo-shoot with her posing with my Contax IIIa film rangefinder. Hope you dig the images!

    I Shoot Street Photography (Women's)
    I Shoot Street Photography (Women's)
    I Shoot Street Photography (Women's)
    I Shoot Street Photography (Women's)
    I Shoot Street Photography (Women's)
    I Shoot Street Photography (Women's)

    Ladies, let us know what you think about this design by leaving a comment below and tell us what other types of designs you would like to see!

    Also, make sure you check out all of our designs in our #streettogs store!

  • 13 Inspirational Examples of Travel Street Photography

    13 Inspirational Examples of Travel Street Photography

    "Hitchcock" - Hamburg, Germany - Thomas Leuthard
    "Hitchcock" – Hamburg, Germany – Thomas Leuthard

    Recently on my Facebook fan page and Twitter, I asked you to send in your favorite street photographs taken while traveling. Check all the images below to see inspirational images from all over the world! Make sure to follow me to stay updated with the new weekly assignments. Read more to see all the other amazing images.

    (more…)

  • Street Photography 101 Workshop with Eric Kim- Brighton, UK

    INTERESTED IN STREET PHOTOGRAPHY BUT SCARED OR DON’T KNOW WHERE TO BEGIN?

    Street Photography 101 is a unique interactive workshop for anyone interested in street photography or looking to improve their current skills. Los Angeles based street photographer Eric Kim will be leading a dynamic one-day workshop in Brighton where you will get to learn:

    • How to get started in Street Photography (with a brief history)
    • Different techniques, equipment and guidelines for shooting in the streets (including the popular “shooting from the hip” technique)
    • Comparison and pros/cons of DSLR, Point and shoot, Rangefinder, Micro 4/3rds, and film cameras for street photography
    • How to get over “The Fear” of shooting in the streets
    • Story-telling techniques and street photography aesthetics
    • The secret of processing beautiful black and whites
    • How to improve your technique and have your work reviewed by Eric and guest London street photographer David Gibson (http://www.gibsonstreet.com/)
    • The analysis and thought process behind choosing the “keepers” from your batch

    The workshop will consist of presentations by Eric Kim with insightful tips for shooting captivating street photographs and plenty of group discussions for improving your own work. Guest street photographer David Gibson be available to give his own insights and provide additional tips for aspiring street photographers.

    Following the presentations, you’ll get a chance to test out your skills through an accompanied on-the-street photography assignment.

    Street photography is not as easy as it looks, but equipped with the right skills and approach, you can come out with captivating photographs!

    Plenty of engaging hands-on activities and more planned!! Read more to see the intro video.

    Intro video by Eric Kim

    Read more to see more details about the workshop!

    (more…)

  • Street Photography Documentary Film with Eric Kim

    Street Photography from Daniel Seo on Vimeo.

    I am excited to present a mini-documentary that my talented friend and film producer Daniel Seo put together. It was a quite intense project that took us an entire day to shoot (from 6AM to 11PM at night). I am very proud of how Daniel was able to put together my vision of street photography through his production and editing.

    If you want to find more of how Daniel works, please check out his blog and check out his Facebook fan page.

    Please let me know what you think by leaving a comment below! I would love to hear your feedback.

  • The 13 Most Inspirational Street Photographs in the Rain

    The 13 Most Inspirational Street Photographs in the Rain

    Compare and Contrast - Tom
    "Compare and Contrast" – Tom

    On my Facebook Page and Twitter I asked the community to send in their best street photography photographs in the rain. I chose the best, and also dug up other inspirational images on Flickr as well. Congratulations to everybody who got their images featured. Read more to see the other inspirational images.

    (more…)

  • 5 Tips How to Take Raw Street Portraits

    5 Tips How to Take Raw Street Portraits

    Raw Street Photography Portrait - Mehdi Bouqua
    Mehdi Bouqua

    Recently I came upon the work of Los Angeles street photographer Medhi Bouqua. He takes incredible portraits of the people of Los Angeles, and I asked him to give me some of his insights about shooting these raw street portraits.

    Medhi: It all began with the street and its surroundings: The Architecture, The street Lights,The cold Concrete, The bright sun, The people walking up and down, The poor, The rich, the young and the old. Street photography has taught me to never hold back from any subject that captures my eyes. I shoot my Raw Portraits as close up shots to capture the emotion, strength, struggle and beauty of people, with both my 35mm Nikon to print and my Rebel Xs Canon to share on the web, I use Natural lighting, no Flash and no reflectors.

    I thought it would also be a great opportunity for me to give you some great tips about shooting raw street portraits, while using Medhi’s photos as examples. Read on and learn more.

    (more…)

  • Is This Photo Ethical?

    Is This Photo Ethical?

    Fifteen year-old Fabienne Cherisma was shot dead by police at approximately 4pm, January 19th, 2010. Photo: Paul Hansen

    Back in March there was a heated debate about this photo taken of 15-year-old Fabienne Cherisma, who was shot and killed by police after stealing two two plastic chairs and three framed pictures. It reminded me much about my recent blog post about Ethics and Street Photography.

    (more…)

  • Show Your Pride with these Street Photography T-Shirts

    Show Your Pride with these Street Photography T-Shirts

    Hey guys,

    I want to thank everybody for all the love and support they have given to myself, this blog, and the street photography community. This site has grown far larger than I have ever anticipated, and I owe it all to you.

    Unfortunately, server costs for myself have been going up so I thought it would be a great idea to start selling some t-shirts to help off-set the cost.

    If you have ever read something helpful or inspirational in my blog and want to support my love of street photography, please purchase a shirt and tell your friends as well! Not only will you be able to show off your street photographer pride to everybody else, but you will be helping me as well continue to help grow the site.

    *** You can customize the shirts in any colors you want in the store ***

    *** You can customize the shirts in any colors you want in the store ***
    I would also love your feedback on the designs of these shirts. If you also would like another type of shirt designed, please leave a comment below! I plan on designing many more shirts in the near future, so stay posted.

    Thanks so much for the support,

    Eric

  • Which is Better? Black and White vs Color for Street Photography

    Which is Better? Black and White vs Color for Street Photography

    Black and White vs Color for Street Photography.Â

    I recently got an email from one of my readers, Kit Taylor, asking me the following question:

    Color or B&W? What goes into the decision to finish a street/candid
    photo as color or black and white? Some photographers have a strong
    specialization. Some of us use both almost equally. Some photos are
    obvious; often I have some that are difficult to decide on.

    I’m really glad that Kit asked this question, as this is an issue that I grapple everyday as a street photographer. There are many pros and cons to both color and black and white street photography– which I will outline below.

    (more…)

  • The 13 Most Inspirational Street Photography Portraits

    The 13 Most Inspirational Street Photography Portraits

    Big glasses
    "Big glasses" – Simon Garnier

    Recently on my Facebook fan page and my Twitter, I asked the community to send me their best inspirational street portraits. I cherry-picked these as the best from all the submissions I got. Congrats to everybody who made the final cut! Read more to see the rest of the great images.

    (more…)

  • 5 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Ask For Permission When Shooting Street Photography

    5 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Ask For Permission When Shooting Street Photography

    "God Bless America" - Gena
    "God Bless America" – Gena. Click to read more.

    Photo Credit

    When it comes to street photography, it is essential to capture candid moments of everyday life. This is what sets the genre of “street photography” differently from all the other types of photography out there. Although there are many talented photographers out there who specialize in capturing posed street portraits, I would classify those images as more of a subsect of “posed street portraiture” than “street photography” proper. In this post I will outline my thoughts why you shouldn’t ask for permission when shooting street photography.

    (more…)

  • Street Photography Fundraiser for Japan

    Street Photography Fundraiser for Japan

    Momoko Onodera prays at an evacuation center as she talks about her husband who died in the tsunami on March 18 in Kesennuma, Japan. A potential humanitarian crisis looms as nearly half a million people who have been displaced by the disaster continue to suffer a shortage of food and fuel as freezing weather conditions set in. (Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)

    Words cannot express the pain and suffering that the Japanese people are currently experiencing. With recent numbers stating that the number of dead and missing is above 25,000— it is one of the worst calamities in Japanese history. There are already many street photographers on the web who are taking their part such as the Flickr group “Charity Print Auction Japan“. Considering that they are already doing their part in donating images to fund raise, I say that we take a different approach: let’s donate hard-cold cash.

    (more…)

  • Is Manual Focus or Autofocus Better for Street Photography?

    Is Manual Focus or Autofocus Better for Street Photography?

    “Walking Along” – Santa Monica 3rd Street Promenade

    Recently I asked the community on my Facebook fan page what blog post they wanted me to write about. Douglas Bain asked me a question about the advantages/disadvantages of using manual or autofocus for street photography which is a fantastic question. I have debated about this with myself when it comes to street photography. Using primarily a DSLR for street photography, I often switch between the both as they both have advantages/disadvantages. However there is often heated debate between both camps (one saying that autofocus is more convenient while the purists say manual focusing is the only way to go). I will do my best of outlining the pros of both manual and autofocus in street photography in this blog post (and will let you tell me the disadvantages in the comments).

    (more…)

  • Photo Essay: The Beautiful Decay of Detroit, Michigan

    Photo Essay: The Beautiful Decay of Detroit, Michigan

    Eric Kim Street Photography Detroit Michigan
    Welcome to Detroit.Â

    The past weekend I visited Detroit, Michigan. After recently watching the Chrysler Eminem Superbowl Commercial – Imported from Detroit, I have built a fascination for the city. On one hand, it is a gorgeous and urban city with tons of history. On the other hand, the economy of Detroit is in terrible shape and it shows with the desolate feeling of Downtown. However after talking to some residents of the city, they feel proud of Detroit and feel that it is on its way back up again. I definitely think that Detroit will rise once again to greatness, considering that GM is hitting record numbers of sales (and there are talks that they’re opening a Corvette plant down there).

    All in all, the city of Detroit as the city was gorgeous in my eyes–raw, urban, and cold. I hope you enjoy my images and my personal narrative of the city.

    (more…)

  • 5 Reasons Why You Should Use a Point and Shoot for Street Photography

    5 Reasons Why You Should Use a Point and Shoot for Street Photography

    (All photographs copyrighted by Alex Majoli / Magnum Photos)

    Recently on the web I came upon a quite article about Alex Majoli, a Magnum photographer who shot award-winning images in the the Congo for two weeks and Iraq for two months using a point and shoot camera. Typically point and shoot cameras get a bad reputation for only being for “amateurs” and people who don’t know how to use a “real camera.”

    Currently on the market, there are many wonderful point and shoot cameras for street photography. A few notable ones are the Ricoh GRIII, the Canon S95, and the Lumix LX-5. Many street photographers I know actually prefer using point and shoot cameras for their work, rather than using clunky DSLR’s or expensive digital rangefinders. Although I primarily shoot my street photography with a DSLR, I have done a considerable amount of street photography with my point and shoot as well. Therefore in this article, I will try to outline some of the strengths of using a point and shoot camera for street photography.

    (more…)

  • The 30 Most Inspirational Street Photographs on Flickr

    The 30 Most Inspirational Street Photographs on Flickr

    Recently I asked on Facebook and Twitter for your best street photographs on Flickr. I reviewed the entries carefully, and chose the 30 most inspirational street photographs that showed either exhibited the decisive moment, the beauty of everyday life, or powerful imagery. Congratulations to everybody that made the final cut! Read more to see the other winning images.

    Knee Boarding : Chained from hand to toe

    Chained from hand to toe by rhohit

    (more…)

  • Street Portraits vs Street Photography: What’s the Difference?

    Street Portraits vs Street Photography: What’s the Difference?

    Beirut, Lebanon. Click to read more.

    Recently my friend and fellow artist Jacob Patterson asked me on Twitter what I thought the difference was between street portraits and street photography. It was a fascinating question, as there are many debates and inconsistencies on the web about the differences between the two. In this article I will outline my thoughts on the differences between street portraits and street photography. Not only that, but I encourage you to read on and chime in this debate as well.

    (more…)

  • “Something beautiful” – Black and White Street Photography in London by Ore Huiying

    Recently I came upon this Vimeo video on Invisible Photographer Asia. The storytelling in this black and white street photography slideshow is incredible, and the music really makes it memorable. Check out the video and make sure to check out Invisible Photographer Asia for more great street photographers from Asia!



    Who is the most inspirational Asian street photographer that you know? Leave a comment below and tell us who, and leave a link to their site!

  • 7 Bright Ways How to Shoot Street Photography at Night

    7 Bright Ways How to Shoot Street Photography at Night

    Click to read more
    "Together in the Rain" – Seoul, Korea. Click to read more.Â

    On my Facebook fan page, I asked my readers what they wanted to have a blog post on. There were several of you who mentioned an article about how to shoot street photography at night. Van Gogh once famously said, “I often think that the night is more alive and more richly colored than the day.” I definitely feel that the same applies in street photography. I love shooting at night, because I feel that is when you can capture the true soul of the urban jungle–when street lights illuminate and people are on the prowl. Keep reading to see more tips on how to shoot street photography at night:

    (more…)

  • The 10 Most Inspirational Street Photographs on Facebook

    The 10 Most Inspirational Street Photographs on Facebook

    Recently on my Facebook fan page I asked my viewers to share their best street photographs for a chance to be featured on my blog. I looked at every entry, and chose these 10 as the best. Keep reading to see all of the inspirational images!

    pipe it in
    Click to see more

    “Pipe it in” by Jason Martini

    (more…)

  • 5 Ways How to Deal with Pissed Off People (after taking their photo)

    5 Ways How to Deal with Pissed Off People (after taking their photo)

    Turn that Frown Upside Down!
    "Turn that Frown Upside Down!" – Los Angeles. Click to read more.

    A question that I often get from my readers regarding street photography is how I deal with people who are either disgruntled or pissed off after I take their photo. Fortunately enough, I rarely get approached by people after I take their photo. This is due to the fact that I often avoid eye contact with my subjects, and carry myself if I was taking a photo of someone else.

    However I still have encountered people who get pissed off after I take their photo. Therefore I came up with some things that I have done which helped me deal with these people. Read more to see tips that you can do when encountering upset or belligerent people.

    (more…)

  • Join the Urban Photo Collective!

    Join the Urban Photo Collective!

    Note: The following blog post is by Fokko Muller, a street photographer inThe Netherlands. Check out the awesome Urban Photo Collective he is a part of, and join in on the fun!

    Urban Photo Collective

    The Urban Photo Collective (UPC) started almost 5 years ago in the city of Rotterdam (The Netherlands). The founder Thamar Kiemel (@thamar) was taking urban shots in Rotterdam with a friend. The idea arose to do that more often with a group of people. Just because it’s fun to go on the streets and photograph together.

    At this moment the Urban Photo Collective has more than 250 members spread over 8 Dutch cities:

    Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, Utrecht, Arnhem, Tilburg, Groningen and Emmen.

    Each month a group of passionate photographers join to take photos in their city according to a collective theme.

    (more…)

  • Gizmodo Shooting Challenge: B&W Street Photography

    Click to read more
    Click to read more

    Hey guys,

    Looks like the fellas over at Gizmodo are hosting a b/w street photography challenge. Rules are simple: take a candid photo of a person in black and white (and don’t use old photos). Seems like a lot of fun–read more for the rules.

    (more…)

  • Why You Should Always Use and Abuse Your Gear

    Why You Should Always Use and Abuse Your Gear

    Click to read more
    A true photographer's camera.

    I have always been a firm believer that photographers should use and abuse their gear. This means that you shouldn’t be scared to get little scratches and minor nicks in your camera when you are out exploring for photos. This means that you shouldn’t handle your camera like a newborn child. This means that you shouldn’t worry more about the warranty than actually taking photos. This means that you shouldn’t leave your camera at home in fear of getting in stolen.

    (more…)

  • The Most Famous Street Photographs Recreated with Legos

    The Most Famous Street Photographs Recreated with Legos

    Recently I came upon these amazing Lego recreations of famous street photography/journalist photographs. Can you identify who took the photos below? Read more and find out how good your photographic knowledge is!

    Click to see more

    (more…)

  • 5 Reasons Why Digital Will Make You a Better Street Photographer

    5 Reasons Why Digital Will Make You a Better Street Photographer

    Click to read article
    Click to read article on Yanidel's Site

    My good friend Yanidel (an accomplished street photographer from Paris, now on an around-the-world trip in Argentina) wrote a great complementary opinion to my original article “6 Reasons Why Shooting Film Will Make You a Better Street Photographer“, titled: “5 Reasons Why Digital Will Make You a Better Street Photographer“. He brings up many fantastic points in his article, and I highly recommend everyone to read it.

    So now you have read both sides of the picture, which do you prefer–film or digital? Leave a comment below telling us how you feel!

  • Street Photography Interview on ShutterSalt

    Street Photography Interview on ShutterSalt

    Click to read the interview
    Click to read the interview

    Hey guys,

    Jaymi Heimbuch, a wonderful photographer/blogger, featured me in an interview in her new photography site called ShutterSalt. Take a minute to check out my interview!

  • 6 Reasons Why Shooting Film Will Make You a Better Street Photographer

    6 Reasons Why Shooting Film Will Make You a Better Street Photographer

    Click to read more
    "The Look" – Hollywood, Los Angeles. Shot with my Contax IIIa Film Rangefinder.Â

    Recently I have been shooting more street photography with my Contax IIIa Film Rangefinder. Although I still prefer digital for street photography in terms of convenience, security, as well as flexibility– I have started to learn the merits of shooting street photography with film.

    I am not  film purist by any means, as I am still relatively new to shooting street photography with film. Furthermore, I have not yet processed my own film before. However if you have not tried to shoot street photography with film before, I hope this article will help inspire you to do so in order to break out of your comfort zone and continue to develop.

    (more…)

  • Are There Any Ethics in Street Photography?

    Are There Any Ethics in Street Photography?

    Recently I made a post on my Facebook fan page, asking the community what they wanted me to write about. One of the topics at hand which was popular was the ethics of street photography. I intend this post to showcase some of my thoughts, and also open up for discussion to the rest of the street photography community.

    “I have no ethics”

    I’d love to start off this article with a quote from Bruce Gilden from this video in which he says, “I have no ethics.” If you see his in-your-face style of shooting in the streets, this quote may not come to any surprise to you. He is famous for getting extremely close to people and taking photos with his wide-angle lens and flash. If you look at his images, he takes an array of photos of people in society from Japanese Yakuza Gangsters to people in Haiti.

    Click to read more
    JAPAN. Asakasa. 1998.

    (more…)

  • The Journey from a DSLR to a Rangefinder

    The Journey from a DSLR to a Rangefinder

    Note: Recently I did a blog post on the pros and the cons of rangefinders for street photography. I then came upon an insightful comment from Steve Foon about his experience from switching from using a DSLR to a rangefinder for street photography. Therefore I asked him to do this guest blog post and he graciously accepted! The post you are about to read is incredibly thorough and well-thought out. It is a must-read for anybody considering making the switch from a DSLR to a rangefinder for street photography.

    Click to read more

    As we roam the Streets to capture images, the tendency to look at the works from people who help create the genre like Bresson, Erwitt, Franks, Weeks, Maier, etc… just seem like the natural thing to do.

    One thing kept coming up in terms of camera gear….. Rangefinder cameras.

    Allow me to share with you my thoughts on this. Thanks to Eric for letting me share.

    Disclaimer – I want to set the record straight that although I am using a rangefinder more and more, I still love what a DSLR can do.  Please don’t think that my comments towards rangefinders is a put down on DSLR’s or any other camera format.

    This disclaimer comes from a recent posting I made about rangefinders that had some people in the DSLR camp in a rage.

    (more…)

  • “Walking with a Camera”

    “Walking with a Camera”

    Two lovers

    Note: Nacho Cordova who recently wrote this blog post about the differences between candid and street photography wrote this nice street photography poem for us all to enjoy. Let him know what you think by leaving him a comment below!

    Walking with a Camera

    Street photography is
    ambulatory and peripatetic,
    which is not to say pretty pathetic
    though it is that too
    when it evokes the
    emotion of the dingy streets
    it loves to walk,
    temporarily and momentarily
    a witness
    chased by shadows
    into that alley where
    flirting freely with the instantly impermanent
    –I wonder if those two will…?
    fleetingness of the moment,
    which, though recorded,
    as all subjects are,
    with inimitable singularity, both
    always and never
    ahead of time,
    –Who needs a Leica?
    remains bewitched,
    bothered, bewildered and
    ironically bemused all at once-
    ready to find the urban hope
    picturesquely revealed
    In the least likely places
    –Leap the puddle already!
    What better way to allude to
    the illusive nature of the
    hope that slinks surreptitiously
    down the street
    with a finger on the shutter?

    — Nacho Cordova

    http://www.exposure-latitudes.com/

  • Are Rangefinders Just Hype or the Real Deal?

    Are Rangefinders Just Hype or the Real Deal?

    Leica M9 Titanium

    Recently one of my readers named Reacher Rau suggested that I write a blog post on the pros and cons of using rangefinders. He told me how he always heard how awesome rangefinders such as Leicas were good for street photography, but never heard a discussion about the pros and the cons. Although I have to disclaim that I am not a rangefinder master, I still have enough experience using them so I feel that I can give a pretty unbiased opinion on both sides of the issue.

    (more…)

  • Why Passion Isn’t Enough for Street Photography

    Why Passion Isn’t Enough for Street Photography

    Jack Laxer – Legendary 3D Photographer

    I have to say that I am a pretty passionate guy when it comes to street photography. However as I have recently noticed, passion simply isn’t enough when it comes to street photography. There are days that we aren’t going to feel inspired, which makes it really difficult for us to get in the streets and shoot.

    (more…)